Sermon Preview – Week of April 17

This Sunday we will finish our exposition of Jonah. Our text will be Jonah 4:1-11. It has been quite the journey for Jonah hasn’t it? The Lord’s prophet began by fleeing from a divine call to the people of Nineveh, yet ended up in Nineveh where he preached and the people experienced mass spiritual awakening. God has not only been gracious to the people of Nineveh, Jonah also experienced the kind and gracious hand of the Lord as he was rescued from a watery grave and delivered to the safety of dry ground, where he’s given a second chance. We see a change in the rebellious heart of Jonah as he sits in the belly of the great fish appointed by God. Jonah is seeing God more clearly, declaring “salvation belongs to the Lord!” and he is willing to take up the calling of God to the people of Nineveh. However, his willingness and obedience proves to have hopes for a different end than the one God brings about. God brings salvation to Nineveh and Jonah is furious. Jonah is at odds with God again. And, again, we have to be careful not to judge Jonah too quickly. He reflects who we are whether we like to admit it or not. In our text for Sunday, the Lord is going to teach some hard but good lessons. And, by the grace of God we will learn from Jonah’s life the lessons there are to be learned.